Electric coupling.



Patented Mar. 27, |900.

R. D. IRELAND. ELECTRIC CUPLING. {Applicaon med Jan. 12, 1897.3

(No Model.)

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. Nrrnnf STATES ROBERT D. IRELAND, OF VINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 646,179, dated March27', 1900.

Application filed January l2, 1897.

To ctZZ whom it may concer-11,: v

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. IRELAND, a citizen of the United StatesofAmerica, and a resident of the town of Winthrop, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain newanduseful Improvement in Electric Couplings, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The electric coupling of this invention was more particularly designedto connect and disconnect a stand or drop electric light and theelectric current of a chandelier or other ixed electric-light appliance;but, as will be apparent from the description hereinafter given of thesame, it is applicable to other purposes of electric connection anddisconnection.

The electric coupling of this invention conssts, essentially, of asocket and of a plug to enter into and to be held in said socket incombination with two electric cont-acts within said socket and twoelectric contacts on the plug, severally having proper Wire connectionsand all so that the plug and socket entered the one into the other. Theelectric contacts of each become and are so joined that an electriccircuit therethrough is established and the plug and ysocket withdrawnthe one from the other. The electric contacts of each become and aredisconnected, and thus the electric circuit is broken, it being ofcourse understood that said electric contacts are properly insulated andthat they are by wires or otherwise suitably connected for an electriccurrent to be established and when established utilized as desired.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, forming part of thisspecification, an electric coupling of this invention is illustrated inits most approved form of construction.

Figure l is a central longitudinal section showing the socket and plugof the coupling as separated; and Fig. 2 is a similar section, butshowing them as joined or, in other words, the plug as entered into thesocket. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is atransverse section on line 4 4, Fig. l.

In the drawings, A is the socket. B is the plug. a a2 are the electriccontacts of the socket, and b b2 are the electric contacts of the plug.

Serial No. 618,994. (No model.)

The-plug B is tapered or reduced toward its upper end, as indicated byb', and at its outer end is provided with an enlargement or head B. Theupper ends'of the contacts b b2 are bent inward, as shown. By thisconstruction when the plug is inserted in ,the socket the upper ends ofthe contacts b b2 will be sprung into the tapered or reduced portion Dbeneath the head BQ and thereby be protected from contact with foreignsubstances which might short-circuit the current.

The socket and the plug aremade of any suitable insulating material,such as hard vulcanized india rubber, porcelain, dac. The electriccontacts are made of metal, brass, or any other suitable material.

Both the socket and lplug are suitably adapted for attachment, as may berequired, as for illustration. The socket has a hub A2 externallyscrew-threaded, so as to enable it thereby to be attached to anelectric-light chandelier or other fixture or appliance and to have itselectric contacts a a2 connected by wires d d2 with the electric wiresor current of said ixture or appliance, and the plug at one end has aknob B2 open lengthwise throughv its center, as at B3, for an electric-Ywire cord D or such like-that is, two insulated wires f fz-to beentered and suitably yconnected with the `electric contacts of the plug,said wires fjf2 otherwise being in suitable connection-as, for instance,with an incandescent electric-light bulb or other appliance.

The several electric contacts a a2 and b b2 in pairs are aflixed byscrews or otherwise suitably to the socket and to the plug,respectively, aud in each instance they extend along the length and onopposite sides of eachv and are resilient or springy and all so thatwith the plug, which otherwise is made so as to closely fit the bore ofthe socket inserted in said socket, as shown in Fig. 2, the saidelectric contacts make close connection and contact, and therebyestablish an electric circuit, all else being suitable therefor.

The spring action of the electric contacts plainly insures their close'connection and contact when the plugis inserted in the socket and tendsvto hold the plug and socket against accidental separation, which isfurther insured by a close it between the sides of the IOO plug notcovered by its electric contacts and the portions of the wall of thesocket not covered by its electric contacts.

The socket and the plug are suitably formed, as at g and 71.,respectively, to allow of the lateral play of the electric contacts ofeach in the insertion ofthe plug within the socket, as described.

The electric couplingr described and shown is most practical andefficient as well as most simple and neat and can be utilized to greatadvantage wherever it is desirable to have a convenient and ready meansof connecting and separating any electric appliance and an electriccurrent contained in some other fixture or appliance, as, forillustration, to connect and disconnect an electric drop or stand lightand an electric light chandelier or bracket or other fixed electriclightappliance or fixed electric supply.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

An electric coupling comprising the socket A having resilient electriccontacts extending upward therein,the plug B having toward its upper enda reduced portion and at said upper end an enlargement or head, andresilient electric contacts secured to and extending along said plug,and having their upper ends bent inward and adapted to lie in thereduced portion beneath said enlargement or head, whereby, when the plugis inserted into the socket said ends will be sprung beneath saidenlargement or head by the engagement of the contacts of the plug withthose of the socket, and be protected from contact with foreignsubstances,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT D. IRELAND.

Witnesses:

MINNIE IRELAND, ALBERT W. BROWN.

